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Xtremity Optimist open meeting at Bosham Sailing Club

by Sandy Ramus 19 Sep 2023 15:30 BST 17 September 2023

100 Optimists spread across the regatta fleet and main fleet arrived ready for a 4 race series making their way out in a blustery breeze gusting 23 knots in the harbour. Due to the easterly direction the main fleet course was set in the Gallon Reach so wasn't too far from base camp. Wind over tide made for a lively sail to the start with the young sailors testing the skills in the steep seas.

Race 1 got away on the second attempt and the fleet fought their way upwind. As they were arriving at the windward the sky darkened and it suddenly felt very unlike the end of summer. There were the odd flashes of lightning and the rumbles and the heavy rain started falling. In the race team on the committee boat we realised this was terminal for this race and it was swiftly abandoned and the sailors headed straight home where the tea hut became very popular!

With the weather system from the south west and the easterly wind the rain and thunderstorm hung about for a bit but as it seemed to ease off the committee boat went out to see what it looked like on the race track. As time ticked on it was looking unlikely but with a bit of faith in the weather tracker the main fleet were called to launch.

Not easy for the young sailors and parents to turn it around and get back out there when all was looking like it was over for the day so full credit for getting going again so swiftly.

Race 1 was a more comfortable 10 knots and with the tide starting to run with the wind the fleet split with some trying to get out of the tide but having less wind and others staying more central in the stronger breeze. The race was won convincingly by Finley Browne who had build a substantial lead by the windward mark and was never challenged. Nia Byrne followed in second, then Patrick de Salle with Pippa Shepherd forth.

Race 2 started with sun starting to peak through the clouds and everyone started to dry out... this is more like it! If only we had longer to do more races we all thought.

After two laps of the windward leeward course and a few position changes the winner was Finn Ramus who sailed a stunning second windward leg from Pippa Shepherd (2nd), Wilbur Ward (3rd) and Tom Keegan (4th).

Unfortunately we did have to finish it there but it was great to end on a high note after a challenging day for all involved.

Xtremity kindly supported the event with some fantastic prizes and we are hugely grateful for that.

It was fantastic for Pippa Shepherd, a Bosham Sailing Club member, to receive the 1st place trophy and first Bosham boat trophy after a consistent 4,2 scoreline. Well done Pippa.

Main Fleet Results:

PosBoat nameSail NoHelmR1R2Pts
1st 6444Pippa Shepherd426
2nd6230Finley Browne189
3rd 6298Thomas Knight5712
4thLemody 26610Nia Byrne21113
5th6546Wilbur Ward11314
6th6553Finn Ramus15116
7thGBR 66216621Hector Davies71421
8thGBR 64516451Charlie Holland17522
9thSmile and wave6631Alex Saunders141024
10thPortuguese man o war6316Patrick Salle32225
11th6349Felix Garlick61925
12th6472William Shaw131225
13th 6644Tom Keegan24428
14th 6270Harry Ramshaw23629
15thPole Position6508Sean Salle121830
16thOppie6515Rupert Garlick92433
17thGrizzly6404Edward Taylor82634
18thAvenger6529Henry Cruse181634
19thFinns boat6574Finn Byrne211536
20thTNT5461Wilbur Haye102939
21stRocktimist6190 / 6617Felix Gladman261743
22ndWhirlwind6368Merryn Wealthy252348
23rdJammy Dodger5990Rufus Haye193150
24thFlipper6439Jack Ward42951
25thNA6394Josie Clark163955
26th6418Tristan Shaw352055
27th 6523William Fuller292857
28thSync6424Beth Llewellyn204262
29th 6446Samuel Machell372562
30thHot StuffRSA 1281Iain Coward501363
31stOptimistic6494Zoe Green432164
32ndOptical Illusion6520Edward Judson303464
33rd 6449Harry Whelan224365
34thStill Wazzing6576Arthur Pattison333265
35thSundowner6512Darcy Donnell323365
36th6646Max Ellis‑Asquith413071
37thDodger6246Oscar Stephens314071
38thSea Shocker5813Felix Ward284472
39thWaterrat6271Theodore Fox393574
40thViper5665Finn Kameen274875
41stDash5664Sam Taylor492776
42ndWatermelon6484Isabella Deas383876
43rdEmily Franklin6416Emily Franklin364177
44th 6381Carwyn Parry443680
45thPrime mover624Eva Brindley345185
46thSpeedy carrot 26415Robbie Judson513788
47th 6643Finnian Keegan454691
48thZigzag6234Maddy White405292
49th6552Amelia Briwne484593
50thGreat Wight4581Robby Mayo464995
51stWater Lord6532Luke Moore524799
52ndPowder monkey5957Ella Kane5350103
53rdWoody6296Jack Curtis47DNC113
54thDave6231EWAN HAMILTONDNCDNC132
54th 6514Kate CharlesworthDNCDNC132
54th 6596Lucy WhortonDNCDNC132
54th 5693Max MurphyDNCDNC132
54th  Eloise McCarthyDNCDNC132
54thImp5498Huxley LockDNCDNC132
54thDouble Trouble (Colgate)5963Safia ColgateDNCDNC132
54th 5774Jake PetevinosDNCDNC132
54th 6615Meri GreenawayDNCDNC132
54thBoppy5096Isabelle SimpsonDNCDNC132
54th 6306George McCormickDNCDNC132
54thSkywalker5512Flynn GrantDNCDNC132

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